courtesy photo
These happy Seacoast Career School graduates are, from left to right, April Currier, Tiffany Fisher, Alicia Young, Amanda Ireland, Kayla Smith and Jill St. Jean.

SPRINGVALE — Seacoast Career Schools hosted its Fall Commencement Exercise on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Nasson Community Center in Springvale. Eighty students were eligible to graduate, and more than 60 graduates participated in the ceremony.

The graduates donned green tassels in honor of the school colors. Fifty-one Professional Medical Assistants graduated — one of them had perfect attendance for her entire academic program and six achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA).

Thirteen Health Claims Specialists graduated, three with perfect attendance and five with a 4.0 GPA. Fourteen Massage Therapy students graduated, and one had perfect attendance.

Members of the faculty and staff attended to show their support and congratulate the graduates. Director of Career Services Vanessa Ingrassia introduced the faculty, staff and graduates.

Campus Director Katin Keirstead welcomed the students and their families to the event. She offered words of support and encouraged them to continue their commitment to learning as they enter into their new careers.

Director of Admissions Marylou Ross addressed the students with words of encouragement. She reminisced about when the students first came in to learn about Seacoast’s educational programs, and how great it was to watch them progress into confident individuals in their field.

Director of the Allied Health Programs Stephen Clough addressed the students with comedic yet touching words. He spoke from the heart, thanking them for what they have given to him throughout their journey at Seacoast.

Director of Education Laura Johnston spoke of the meaning of the different colored cords the students wore with their gowns to display their achievements. She acknowledged these students and expressed how proud she was of all of the graduates.

Finally, graduate speaker Tasha Tarbox, a Medical Assisting graduate, addressed her peers. Tarbox shared her story of the challenges she faced as an adult learner. She encouraged the graduates to be proud of their accomplishments and wished them well in their new journey.

During the graduation ceremony, students were given two pins. One pin was for them to keep, and the other was to be given to the person they felt helped them the most through their journey. After receiving their graduation certificates, students were then asked to present these pins as an expression of thanks to their loved ones.

Watching the graduates share their pins with those who supported them during this process was a touching and memorable moment for those in attendance. The joyous event concluded with the graduates “turning their tassels” and transitioning into an exciting field full of potential and possibilities for the future.

THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2013

Here are the Seacoast Career Schools students who graduated. They are listed according to their academic pursuit and alphabetically by last name.